Some might think Gonzo the cat is a bit odd, but for Gonzo, one man’s trash is his treasure. Gonzo loves to explore his neighborhood, always on the lookout for the perfect “present” to bring back to his owner, Derek. These gifts usually consist of various pieces of trash he finds during his adventures.
“He’s never brought anything home except trash,” Derek shared with The Dodo. “He really feels that he needs to bring us stuff.”
According to PetMD, this behavior is typical for cats. Many cats bring their owners toys to encourage play, while others might bring small animals or random objects they find. This behavior can be an attempt to get attention, praise, or affection from their owners.
Gonzo’s gifts included discarded plastic cups, flower pots with dried flowers, and various other scraps of plastic and garbage. Curious about where Gonzo was finding these items, Derek decided to attach a small camera to Gonzo’s collar to see what his little friend was up to.
“There were some days where he’d come back with like 10 trash gifts and he’d just meow every few minutes as you’re trying to get work done,” Derek recalled. “He’s brought home hundreds of trash gifts now at this point.”
The footage from Gonzo’s camera revealed his adventures, such as meeting baby possums and interacting with them gently. It also showed his interest in another cat named Simone, who, although not romantically interested in Gonzo, allows him to come close, but not too close. Gonzo even tried to woo her with a trash gift, though he remains in the friend zone.
Derek has learned a lot from watching Gonzo’s treasure hunts and social interactions. “The best part has been learning about him and being able to connect deeper with him in a unique way,” Derek said. “He’s a special cat. He’s very sweet.”
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Gonzo’s endearing and quirky antics have been viewed almost 3 million times on YouTube, and he even has a TikTok page. One YouTube commenter wrote, “This is the most wholesome thing I’ve ever watched. Looking at the world from Gonzo’s innocent perspective framed by his baby chin hair is the sweetest thing. Animals are such innocent and precious beings with so much more social capacity than we credit them for.”
Gonzo’s adventures not only bring joy to Derek but also to everyone who follows his journey online.